The 125 is one of a unique group of aircraft that can be claimed by up to 5 different manufacturers (De Havilland, Hawker Siddeley, British Aerospace, Raytheon and Hawker Beechcraft) all having played a role in its development.
For the purposes of this historical website however, we list the aircraft as the De Havilland 125 being its designation on the date of its first flight.
The prototype DH125 G-ARYA first flew in August 1962.
De Havilland DH125
Initially known as the Jet Dragon, the De Havilland Aircraft Company DH125 was the first in a generation of executive jets that started its life in the late 1950s. The DH125's success was such that derivatives of the type still remained in production for some 50 years after its first flight in 1962.
It is a low-winged, twin rear jet engined monoplane, with a slightly swept wing and large slotted flaps for ease of operation in and out of small airfields.
The type was not the first executive jet however, being pre-dated by both the Jetstar and the T-39 Sabreliner, but it is most certainly the longest lived of the breed.
Designed by De Havilland Aircraft Company at Hatfield to replace the piston engined De Havilland DH104 Dove, it was intended to meet a list of variables demanded by the successful business user, including a 1,000+ mile range, speed and efficient economics.
The prototype DH125 (G-ARYA) first flew on 13th August 1962, by which time De Havilland had already come under the control of the Hawker Siddeley Group.
Hawker Siddeley had initially continued with the traditional former company names but when Hawker Siddeley Aviation began trading in 1964, the original parent firm’s names were no longer used. The aircraft name was changed to the Hawker Siddeley HS125 and production began at the Broughton factory, near Chester (now the home of Airbus).
The prototypes were of a shorter wingspan than the production models and they were powered by the 3,000 lbst Bristol Siddeley Viper 20 engines. Production aircraft however, up to and including the HS125 Series 400 which used the Bristol Siddeley Viper 520 or 522, with thrust progressively increasing to 3,600 lbst per engine.
Air-to-air view of an early production HS125 Srs1B G-511 of the Ghanian Air Force.
Hawker Siddeley HS125 / BAe125
The Hawker Siddeley HS125 came into being after De Havilland Aircraft Company was absorbed into Hawker Siddeley Aviation in 1963, although designations of the aircraft become even more mixed over the next 30 years, varying between DH125, HS125 and British Aerospace 125. More latterly both Raytheon and Beechcraft designations have been attached the more modern incarnations.
Just eight HS125 Series 1 aircraft were built before being superceded by the more powerful HS125 Series IA (the 'A' denoting America) and HS125 Series 1B (the 'B' denoting the rest of the world).
The RAF were significant buyers of the HS125, operating the aircraft in airborne training and air force navigation roles. RAF aircraft were designated HS125 Dominie T1 and served for over 45 years before finally retiring in 2011.
Twenty HS125 Series 2 aircraft were purchased by the Royal Air Force as the HS125 Dominie, powered by the 3,000 lbst Bristol Siddeley Viper 301. The first HS125 Dominie (XS709) flew on 30th December 1964 and it was followed by the HS125 Series 3, 3A, 3B , all fitted with the 3,360 lbst Bristol Siddeley Viper 522 engines (a total of were 64 built).
Progressive development under Hawker Siddeley and subsequently Heritage - British Aerospace UK saw the introduction of a number of variants as follows
- HS125 Srs 400 (117 built)
- HS125 Series 600 (70 aircraft built including prototype G-AYBH with the Bristol Siddeley Viper 601)
- HS125 Series 700 (215 built including prototype G-BEFZ)
- HS125 Series 800 (more than 275 built including prototype G-BKTF)
- HS125 1000 (52 built including prototype G-EXLR).
XS713 is one of twenty HS125 Srs2 used by the RAF as the Dominie T.1 navigation trainer.
The HS125 saw major success in the United States with over 400 (of the 650 aircraft completed to date) having been flown and operated in the US. At its peak one aircraft was being sold every 7 days.
Hawker Siddeley became part of British Aerospace upon its creation in 1977 and the versions that appeared after that date are predominantly known as the BAe125, although it was often still marketed as the HS, or Hawker 125.
G-ATZN is an HS125 Srs3B owned by the Rank Organisation.
BAe 125
British Aerospace continued the type’s development under the heading of BAe Corporate Jets Ltd, based at Hatfield, with production still continuing at Broughton.
A concerted sales effort was also carried out in the early 1990's incorporating a number of celebrity owners such the late Ayrton Senna. With a still fast-expanding business jet market, the BAe125 and its fore-runners saw continued operational success around the world.
The HS125 Srs400 was a success in the export market, represented here by the Brazillian registered PP-EEM.
The next model to be developed was the Srs600, of which G-AYBH was the prototype.
The HS125 Srs700 was the last model developed under Hawker Siddeley, seen here at Washington.
RAF BAe 125 CC3 ZE395 (HS125 Srs700) photographed at Yeovilton in March 2015.
BAe125 Srs800B G-DCCC photographed in August 1983.
The Series 800 had a further engine upgrade, increase in wingspan and tailfin extension. The prototype (G-BKTF) was flown on 26th May 1983 and the type provided the basis of the C-29A, purchased by the USAF to replace their Lockheed Jetstar communications aircraft.
The prototype of the stretched BAe 1000 G-EXLR flew for the first time on 16th June 1990.
Beechcraft had become a US sales partner, with aircraft sold in the United States being referred to as Beechcraft Hawker BH125.
Following the sale of BAe Corporate Jets to the Raytheon Corporation in June 1993, production of the BAe 125 ceased in the UK although development continued in the United States as the Hawker 800 and Hawker 1000.
Raytheon & Beechcraft
Beechcraft subsequently became part of the Raytheon Group and after the sale of BAe Corporate Jets, development of the type continued under the Raytheon Hawker, and Raytheon designations.
After further financial re-organisation, development of the type continued solely under the name Hawker Beechcraft.
Winglet-equipped Raytheon Hawker 800XP HB-VCJ landing at Farnborough in June 2010.
The 1,000th aircraft of the family was delivered in April 1998 and it is a real tribute to the initial design that it should achieve such longevity, predominantly through progressive development that helped it remain competitive to the present day.
Including subsequent developments through Raytheon and Hawker Beechcraft, the production total is around 1,700 aircraft.
Variants & Numbers built
| Designation | Features |
| Srs 1 | First version, powered by 3,000 lbst Viper 20 or 520 engines. 10 built, including 2 prototypes and 8 production aircraft |
| Srs 1A/1B | Upgraded Bristol Siddeley Viper 521 or 522 engines with 3,100 lbst thrust each, and five cabin windows instead of six. Srs 1A for US FAA certification (62 built), Srs 1B for sale elsewhere (15 built), total 78 aircraft |
| Srs 2 | Navigation trainer for RAF (20 built), with service designation Dominie T.1, powered by 3,000 lbst Viper 301 engines |
| Srs 3A/B | Viper 522-powered variant with increased take-off weight of 21,700 lb. 2 Srs 3, 13 Srs 3A and 15 Srs 3B for non-US sale, total 30 aircraft |
| Srs 3A/RA and 3B/RA | Series 3 with max take-off weight of 22,800 lb and extra 112 gal ventral tank. 20 Srs 3A/RA and 14 Srs 3B/RA for non-US sale, total 34 aircraft |
| Srs 400A and 400B | Increased maximum weights and outward-opening main entry door. From 1970 the Srs 400A aircraft for US were sold as the Beechcraft Hawker BH125 Srs 400A. 69 Srs 400A and 48 Srs 400B for non-US sale, total 117 aircraft |
| Srs 401B | Increased maximum weights |
| Srs 403B | Increased maximum weights |
| HS125 CC1 | RAF designation for Srs 400 communication aircraft |
| Srs 600A and 600B | Viper 601-22 engines, increased weights and operating speeds, 3ft 1in fuselage stretch to increase capacity to 14 passengers, increased fuel capacity and improved aerodynamics. From 1976 the Srs 600A aircraft sold as the Beechcraft Hawker BH125 Srs 600A. 35 Srs 400A and 35 Srs 400B for non-US sale, total 70 aircraft |
| HS125 CC2 | RAF designation for Srs 600 communications aircraft |
| Srs 700A and 700B | Honeywell TFE731-3RH turbofan engines of 3,720 lbst thrust each, first flight 19 June 1976. Maximum take-off weight 25,500 lb. 151 Srs 700A and 64 Srs 700B for non-US sale, total 215 aircraft |
| BAe 125 CC3 | RAF designation for Srs 700B communications aircraft |
| BAe 125 800 | Increased wingspan, streamlined nose, tailfin extension, increased fuel capacity, upgraded engines, first flight 26 May 1983. |
| Hawker 800 | Final variant of the BAe 125 800 series. More than 275 built |
| Hawker 800XP | TFE731-5BR1H turbofan engines with 4,660 lbst thrust each |
| Hawker 800SP and 800XP | BAe 125 800 and Hawker 800XP aircraft fitted with winglets |
| Hawker 900XP | 850XP with Honeywell TFE731-50R turbofan engines for increased hot/high performance and longer range and modified avionics |
| Hawker 750 | A derivative of the Hawker 800XP with a lightweight interior and baggage pannier replacing the rear ventral fuel tank |
| C-29A | United States military designation for a derivative of the BAe 125 800 |
| U-125 | BAe 125 800 based flight inspection aircraft for Japan (similar to C-29A) |
| U-125A | Hawker 800 based search and rescue aircraft for Japan, equipped with the APS-134LW radar system |
| BAe 125 Srs 1000A and 1000B | Intercontinental version of the Srs 800, 2ft 9in fuselage stretch to increase capacity to 15, increased fuel capacity, Pratt & Whitney Canada PW-305 turbofans 5,200 lbst thrust each, first flight 16 June 1990, 52 built |
| Hawker 1000 | BAe 125-1000 after 1994 |
Specifications
| Srs 1B | Srs 400B | Srs 600 | |
| Powerplant | Two 3,100 lbst Rolls-Royce Viper 521/522 | Two 3,600 lbst Rolls-Royce Viper 522 | Two 3,750 lbst Rolls-Royce Viper 601-22 |
| Span | 47ft 0 in | 47ft 0 in | 47ft 0 in |
| Maximum Weight | 21,200 lb | 23,300 lb | 25,000 lb |
| Capacity | 6 to 8 passengers | 7 to 10 passengers | 8 to14 passengers |
| Maximum Cruise | 472 mph | 510 mph | 522 mph |
| Range | 1,930 miles | 1,940 miles | 1,796 miles |
Survivors
There are numerous aircraft of the DH125 family still flying around the world. A small number of aircraft are also displayed in museums and the list below details some UK examples.
|
HS125 Series 1
(G-ARYB)
|
Midland Air Museum, Coventry
|
|
DH125 Series 1
(G-ARYC)
|
De Havilland Museum, London Colney
|
|
HS125 Series 1
(G-ASSM)
|
Science Museum, London
|
|
HS125 T.1 Dominie
(XS709)
|
RAF Museum, Cosford
|
